Snow shovel kit

ABSTRACT

A snow shovel kit for assembly into a snow shovel, comprising a bucket, a handle member and a pair of handle bars. A pair of first attachments attach the handle bars to the bucket and a pair of second attachments attach the handle bars to the handle member.

CROSS-REFERENCE DATA

The present application claims the priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/402,320 filed on Aug. 27, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to snow shovels and more particularly to a snow shovel kit for assembly into a snow shovel that can be disassembled for storage and transportation and assembled for shovelling use. It is understood that the snow shovel could be used to shovel other granular material than snow such as earth or sand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To allow shovelling of snow more efficiently, buck-type snow shovels have been developed that comprise a large bucket to which a U-shaped handlebar is attached. The user pushes on the handlebar to force the bucket along the ground, scooping and pushing the snow to a destination where the snow is to be dispatched. There, the handlebar may be raised, pivoting the bucket from a generally horizontal position towards a generally vertical position until the snow slides out of the bucket.

Bucket-type snow shovels are not adapted to being lifted over ground when they are filled with snow. The bucket is indeed too heavy when it is filled with snow and the handlebar is not designed to allow the snow shovel to be lifted. In fact, the advantage of such bucket-type snow shovels relies on the fact that the user does not need to lift the snow shovel while it is loaded with snow. The user needs only push the snow that is entrapped in the bucket along the ground, without ever lifting it; and pivot the bucket to empty it. The handlebar is made longer to allow the bucket to be pivoted without the user bending down or being otherwise uncomfortable during the pivoting operation. The U-shaped handlebar has a straight, horizontal grasping segment that allows the user to apply both hands in spaced-apart, side-by-side relationship to lean against the handlebar to push the bucket along the ground to scrape the ground and gradually fill the bucket with snow.

Such bucket-type snow shovels are much larger than previous hand-operated snow shovels and can scoop much greater quantities of snow due to a larger bucket. A drawback of these shovels, however, is that they require significant space for storage and transportation. One reason why these bucket-type snow shovels take up a lot of space is that the region between the U-shaped handlebar and the bucket is empty space that cannot be efficiently filled in storage and transportation. Thus, even if bucket-type snow shovels are stacked and palletized, there remain significant empty spaces in the palletized stacks. Also, the bucket and the long handlebar that extends therefrom provide a generally concave configuration on many bucket-type shovels that result in the shovel not lying flat on the ground if it is installed face down, but rather sitting on the front leading edge of the bucket and on the grasping segment of the handlebar. A single bucket-type snow shovel consequently also requires significant space for storage in an end-user's home, for example his garage or basement, due to this overall concave configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a snow shovel kit for assembly into a snow shovel, comprising:

-   -   a bucket;     -   a handle member;     -   a pair of handle bars;     -   a pair of first attachments for attaching said handle bars to         said bucket; and     -   a pair of second attachments for attaching said handle bars to         said handle member.

In one embodiment, said handle member is unitary and U-shaped and comprises an elongated prehension segment from which transversely depend a pair of attachment segments, said attachment segments for attachment to said handle bars by means of said second attachments.

In one embodiment, said handle member prehension segment is straight.

In one embodiment, said handle member prehension segment is elbowed to define a central portion and linking portions at opposite extremities of said central portion, with said linking portions offsetting said central portion relative to said attachment segments.

In one embodiment, said handle member comprises:

-   -   a prehension bar; and     -   a pair of elbowed sockets for engagement of said prehension bar         between said elbowed sockets, with said pair of second         attachments being for attaching said handle bars to said elbowed         sockets of said handle member.

In one embodiment, at least one of said first and second attachments comprises releasable attachments.

In one embodiment, at least one of said first and second attachments comprises a resiliently deformable elbowed clip for releasably attaching first and second hollow elements with respect to each other by being inserted therein, said clip having at least one lug for engagement through holes made in said first and second elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snow shovel kit according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly broken exploded perspective view of a snow shovel suggesting how it may be assembled by using the snow shovel kit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view taken from the front and the top of the snow shovel of FIG. 2, with the shovel being in an assembled state;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but taken at an angle from the bottom and rear of the snow shovel;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of an attachment clip;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the area circumscribed by line VI in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a handle member according to an alternate embodiment;

FIGS. 8-11 are similar to FIGS. 1-4, but show a shovel kit and shovel according to an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a stack of buckets;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing palletized handle members; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing palletized handle bars.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a snow shovel kit 20 for assembly into a snow shovel 30 as shown in FIGS. 2-4, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Snow shovel 30 comprises a bucket 32, a handle member 34 and a pair of handle bars 36, 38 that link handle member 34 to bucket 32.

Bucket 32 comprises a load-bearing wall 40 that includes a bend to form a bottom wall portion 42 and a rear wall portion 44. Bottom wall portion 42 has a front, leading edge 43 for scraping the ground, allowing bottom wall portion 42 to scoop the snow. Rear wall portion 44 is destined to maintain the snow being scooped atop bottom wall 42 and also to push the snow as bucket 32 is pushed along the ground.

Bucket 32 also comprises side wall portions 46, 48 integrally linked to bottom wall portion 42 and rear wall portion 44 at their bottom ends and each having a top downturned flange 50, 52 along the section of side wall portions 46, 48 that registers with bottom wall portion 42.

Tubular sleeves 54, 56 are formed along the section of side wall portions 46, 48 that register with rear wall portion 44. Tubular sleeves 54, 56 more particularly extend from a first end 54 a, 56 a linked to a corresponding flange 50, 52 to a second end 54 b, 56 b that projects beyond the bucket rear wall 44. The second ends 54 b, 56 b of tubular sleeves 54, 56 is opened to allow handle bars 36, 38 to be inserted therein, as described in further detail hereinafter. Furthermore, tubular sleeves 54, 56 have openings 58, 60 formed in their peripheral walls.

Handle bars 36, 38 are tubular and each define respective first and second ends 36 a, 38 a and 36 b, 38 b (FIG. 2). The handle bar first ends 36 a, 38 b are each to be inserted into respective bucket tubular sleeve second ends 54 b, 56 b and they are provided with holes 70, 72 that cooperate with a pair of first attachments in the form of releasable attachment clips 80, 81 (also shown in FIG. 5) to releasably attach handle bars 36, 38 to bucket 32.

Each attachment clip 80, 81, for example clip 80 shown in FIG. 5, comprises a straight segment 82, an elbow 84, an inclined segment 86 and first and second lugs 88, 90 on straight segment 82. By inserting a clip 80 in the hollow of a handle bar such as handle bar 36 for example, clip 80 will resiliently yet yieldingly deform at elbow 84 to force both inclined segment 86 and straight segment 82 towards diametrically opposite sides of handle bar 38. As a consequence, by aligning lugs 88, 90 with holes 70, lugs 88, 90 will be forced outwardly into holes 70. With handle bar 36 fully inserted into sleeve 54, holes 70 come to register with slots 92, 94 (see FIG. 6) made in one opening 58 of tubular sleeve 54 to allow lugs 88, 90 to protrude through slots 92, 94 to effectively fix handle bar 36 within tubular sleeve 54 and prevent accidental disengagement therefrom.

Lug 90, which is located further away from the clip's elbow 84, is longer than lug 88 to allow both lugs 88, 90 to simultaneously disengage holes 70 as straight segment 82 pivots about elbow 84 when lugs 88, 90 are manually pressed to force the attachment clip straight segment 82 inwardly into tubular handle bar 36. Handle bar 36 may then be disengaged from the bucket tubular sleeve 54. The longer lower second lug 90 also has the advantage of suggesting that the user push on this second lug 90 instead of shorter first lug 88, which is desirable since it is easier to bend clip 80 by pushing on straight segment 82 further away from elbow 84 such as where second lug 90 is positioned. First slot 92 that registered with first lug 88 is approximately as wide as first lug 88; while second slot 94 that registers with second lug 90 is slightly wider than second lug 90. First lug 88 will consequently abut on tubular sleeve 54 when it protrudes in first slot 92 to prevent axial displacement of handle bar 36 within tubular sleeve 54; while second lug 90 will in fact not abut against tubular sleeve 54 when it protrudes in second slot 94, which allows the user's finger to more easily access and depress second lug 90 to disengage handle bar 36 from tubular sleeve 54. However, second lug 90 can act as a safety lug should first lug 88 break, by abutting on tubular sleeve 54 to prevent axial displacement of handle bar 36 within tubular sleeve 54, although allowing a slight play.

Handle member 34 comprises a unitary and U-shaped body 97 that has a straight prehension segment 98 where the user may grasp handle^(.) member 34 during use of the snow shovel 30. A pair of attachment segments 100, 102 transversely depend from prehension segment 98. Tubular openings are provided in attachment segments 100, 102 in which the second ends 36 b, 38 b of handle bars 36, 38 are to be inserted when shovel 32 is being assembled. A pair of second attachments in the form of rivets 104, 105 is used to attach attachment segments 100, 102 to handle bars 36, 38. Handle member body 97 comprises reinforcement ribs 107 (FIG. 1) underneath prehension segment 98 and corner ribs 108, 110 to reinforce the link between prehension segment 98 and attachment segments 100, 102. The reinforcement ribs and corner ribs 108, 110 are advantageous in helping to prevent undesirable torsion of handle member 34 during use.

FIG. 7 shows an alternate embodiment of a handle member 150 also made of a unitary body 152 that comprises a prehension segment 154 that is elbowed to define a central portion 156 and linking portions 158, 160 at opposite extremities of central portion 156. Linking portions 158, 160 offset central portion 156 relative to attachment segments 162, 164, i.e. the central portion 156 which is likely to be grasped by the user while he handles his snow shovel is not in the same plane as handle bars 36, 38. Linking segments also offer alternative grasping options to the user.

FIG. 10 shows a snow shovel kit 200 for assembly into a snow shovel 210 as shown in FIGS. 11-13, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Snow shovel 210 of the second embodiment is similar to snow shovel 30 of the first embodiment, except for handle member 220 of the second embodiment that comprises a tubular prehension bar 222 and a pair of elbowed sockets 224, 226. Elbowed sockets 224, 226 comprise attachment segments 228, 230 that are integrally connected transversely to bar segments 232, 234. The partly hollow attachment segments 228, 230 are engaged by the second end 236 b, 238 b of handle bars 236, 238 and are attached thereto by means of second attachments in the form of rivets 240, 242. The partly hollow bar segments 232, 234 are engaged by opposite ends 222 a, 222 b of prehension bar 222.

According to the present invention, the snow shovel kits 20, 200 of the first and second embodiments, for example the snow shovel kit of the first embodiment 20, may have their components stacked separately to facilitate storage and transportation.

FIG. 12 shows a stack 300 of buckets 32 without any handle bars or handle members. Several bucket stacks 300 may be carried on a pallet (not shown) to facilitate storage and transportation.

FIG. 13 shows a pallet 310 holding stacks 312 of handle members 34 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows a pallet 320 holding a stack 322 of handle bars 36, 38 that are, in fact, identical.

One particular advantage of the present invention is that snow shovel 30, 210 may be produced in a disassembled state, stored and transported in this disassembled state, to then be assembled either at a store location or at an end user's location. Indeed, by providing a handle 34 that is distinct and detachable from the handle bars 36, 38, contrarily to conventional U-shaped handlebars, by providing handle bars 36, 38 that are distinct and detachable from the bucket 32, and by providing releasable first and second attachments such as the clips 80, 81 and the rivets 104, 105, 240, 242, it is easy to store the shovel kits 20, 200 in small volume storage areas and for any retail store worker or end user to assemble the shovel 30, 210 himself or herself. Prior art shovels, on the other hand, are stored and transported in their assembled state and consequently take up significant volume, in particular the volume that is located in the region between the bucket, the handle bars and the handle member, which is unusable, wasted space.

The shovel of the present invention is particularly easy to store and stack in a disassembled state due to the fact that the handle 34 is essentially straight, i.e. it doesn't include segments that significantly extend towards bucket 32. Indeed, only the short attachment sections 100, 102 extend away from straight prehension segment 98. Prior art handles, on the other hand, would include U-shaped handles that had integrally fixed prehension segments and handle bar segments. These U-shaped prior art handles were impractical from a storage standpoint.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the snow shovel may be disassembled to facilitate storage at the end user location. To enhance this feature, the snow shovel could be provided with clips similar to clips 80, 81 to releasably attach the handle to the handle bars. This allows the end user to disassemble his snow shovel and store the snow shovel kit in a relatively compact storage area, as opposed to the much larger area required to store the assembled snow shovel. Alternately, the end user may decide to simply disassemble the bucket from the combined handle bars and handle member, leaving the handle bars attached to the handle member.

The present invention also comprises a method of stacking and storing the snow shovel in a disassembled state and a method of assembling and disassembling the snow shovel, as described above.

It is understood that the clips 80, 81 and rivets 104, 105, 240, 242, could be replaced by other alternate attachments. Preferably, these attachments are releasable. Furthermore, the handle bars 36, 38 could be non-tubular or generally of a different shape. For example, a friction fit of the handle bars 36, 38 in the bucket tubular sleeves 54, 56 and in the handle attachment sections 100, 102 could either constitute the attachments or partly contribute to the attachment of these elements.

In one embodiment, the handle bars 36, 38 are made of metal, the bucket is made of plastic and the handle 34 is also made of plastic. Other embodiments wherein the components are made of other materials are also envisioned. 

1. A snow shovel kit for assembly into a snow shovel, comprising: a bucket; a handle member; a pair of handle bars; a pair of first attachments for attaching said handle bars to said bucket; and a pair of second attachments for attaching said handle bars to said handle member.
 2. A snow shovel kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle member is unitary and U-shaped and comprises an elongated prehension segment from which transversely depend a pair of attachment segments, said attachment segments for attachment to said handle bars by means of said second attachments.
 3. A snow shovel kit as defined in claim 2, wherein said handle member prehension segment is straight.
 4. A snow shovel kit as defined in claim 3, wherein said handle member prehension segment is elbowed to define a central portion and linking portions at opposite extremities of said central portion, with said linking portions offsetting said central portion relative to said attachment segments.
 5. A snow shovel kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle member comprises: a prehension bar; and a pair of elbowed sockets for engagement of said prehension bar between said elbowed sockets, with said pair of second attachments being for attaching said handle bars to said elbowed sockets of said handle member.
 6. A snow shovel kit as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second attachments comprises releasable attachments.
 7. A snow shovel kit as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second attachments comprises a resiliently deformable elbowed clip for releasably attaching first and second hollow elements with respect to each other by being inserted therein, said clip having at least one lug for engagement through holes made in said first and second elements. 